This is the episode in which Norm changes professions: he goes from out-of-work accountant to out-of-work house-painter, but first he puts a new coat of paint on the walls of Rebecca's office, getting to know her in the process.
The first part of this episode is a lot of fun... it pairs the new character of Rebecca with the under-used Norm, and we get to learn about her personal life in a low-pressure scenario: she's in love with her boss Evan Drake, who considers her a screw-up at best. There's something sweet about the combination of Ms. Howe and Mr. Peterson, and it gives the episode an easy charm. The last act, however, goes wrong when Sam attempts to exploit Rebecca's sensitivity in a crass attempt to get her in bed.
He shows up at her house with champagne hidden in a paint bucket and a sports coat under his jumpsuit, making him seem more like a sexual predator than a good-natured everyman. What would he have done if there hadn't been a flood at Norm's house calling him away? Who winds up painting Rebecca's apartment? A flawed finish to a good idea.
GRADE: B-
The first part of this episode is a lot of fun... it pairs the new character of Rebecca with the under-used Norm, and we get to learn about her personal life in a low-pressure scenario: she's in love with her boss Evan Drake, who considers her a screw-up at best. There's something sweet about the combination of Ms. Howe and Mr. Peterson, and it gives the episode an easy charm. The last act, however, goes wrong when Sam attempts to exploit Rebecca's sensitivity in a crass attempt to get her in bed.
He shows up at her house with champagne hidden in a paint bucket and a sports coat under his jumpsuit, making him seem more like a sexual predator than a good-natured everyman. What would he have done if there hadn't been a flood at Norm's house calling him away? Who winds up painting Rebecca's apartment? A flawed finish to a good idea.
GRADE: B-